- The crease-free foldable display was shown by Samsung at CES 2026
- Apple is rumored to use this technology in its first foldable iPhone
- Samsung may reserve the display for a premium or experimental foldable
- Crease-free screens could accelerate mainstream foldable adoption
Samsung may have just crossed one of the biggest remaining hurdles in foldable phone design. At CES 2026, the company quietly demonstrated a foldable display that appears to have no visible crease at all.
For years, that faint but unmistakable line down the middle of foldable screens has been the category’s most obvious compromise. Now, for the first time, it looks genuinely solvable.
The display was shown side by side with the panel used on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, making the contrast impossible to miss.
Where the Fold 7’s screen still shows a shallow but noticeable crease, the new prototype looks smooth and uniform, even under close inspection. If this technology is ready for mass production, it could mark a turning point not just for Samsung, but for the entire foldable market.
More intriguingly, this breakthrough may end up benefiting Apple first.
Why Apple Has Been Waiting
For several years, reports have suggested that Apple’s foldable ambitions were being held back by display limitations rather than design indecision.
Apple is known for entering product categories late, but only when it believes the experience meets its standards. A visible crease has long been seen as unacceptable for a company that prioritizes visual consistency and material finish.
According to respected industry leaker @UniverseIce, Apple is expected to adopt this creaseless display technology for its long-rumored iPhone Fold.
If true, this would explain the extended development timeline and the absence of an Apple foldable while rivals rushed to market.
Apple rarely debuts technology first, but it often insists on delivering the most refined version of it. A crease-free foldable display would fit that pattern perfectly.
If Apple does launch its first foldable later this year alongside the iPhone 18 lineup, the lack of a crease could become its defining feature and a major differentiator overnight.
Samsung’s Own Plans Remain Unclear
What’s surprising is that this display may not immediately appear in Samsung’s own mainstream foldables. Despite unveiling the panel publicly, there is no clear indication that it will be used in the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8. That omission speaks volumes about cost and manufacturing complexity.
Instead, there is speculation that Samsung could reserve this advanced screen for a more experimental device, such as the rumored Samsung Galaxy Wide Fold. This model is said to feature a broader, more tablet-like aspect ratio and may target a niche, premium audience willing to pay extra for cutting-edge hardware.
If Samsung does take this route, it would reinforce a growing trend in foldables. The most advanced display technology is no longer reserved for volume sellers but for halo products designed to showcase what’s possible, regardless of price.
A New Phase for Foldables
The introduction of a crease-free foldable screen could have wider implications than a single product launch. One of the most common criticisms of foldable phones has been that they feel experimental or fragile. Removing the crease doesn’t just improve aesthetics; it also makes the device feel more like a traditional slab phone when unfolded.
That matters for mainstream adoption. Consumers who have been hesitant to spend flagship-level money on a device that visibly bends may finally see foldables as a mature category rather than a novelty.
Timing will be crucial. Samsung’s rumored Wide Fold could arrive as early as July, while Apple’s iPhone Fold is expected in September.
If Apple does manage to ship the first consumer phone with a truly crease-free display, it would instantly reset expectations and put pressure on every Android manufacturer to follow suit.
What was once a defining weakness of foldables may soon become a footnote in their history.
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